Feb. 14, 2004
Stats
Pocatello, ID -- Kevin Criswell hit a jumper in the lane with 7.2 seconds left to offset a .596 shooting night from the field by the Bengals as Montana pulled out an 88-85 win after trailing by 13 with 11:51 left.
The Bengals had a shot to win, but in a bizarre ending, Marquis Poole's spinning jumper was coming out of the cylinder, and Jesse Smith of ISU missed a follow-up dunk, but was called for hanging on the rim technical foul with 0.6 second left, negating an ISU offensive rebound. Roy Booker drained two free throws with 0.6 left to end the scoring.
Montana's comeback started after another technical foul, this on Scott Henry. Up 71-58, Henry was called for a foul underneath, his fourth, and while discussing the call with official Brian Harrison, he was issued a technical by Duane Wilson, his fifth personal, ending his night. The Bengals were outrebounded 19-2 with the leading rebounder on the bench after that.
Idaho State didn't hit a basket after Nate Rede's layup with 6:23 to go, which gave ISU an 81-76 lead. With 1:05 to go, Doug D'Amore hit the first of two free throws to give ISU an 85-84 lead, but Sale' Key was whistled for an over-the-back foul on the rebound, one of 17 fouls whistled on ISU post players in the game. Ryan Pederson hit one free throw, but after an offensive rebound, Jesse Smith blocked a pair of shot. Montana's post players picked up only eight, and were key in their rebounding effort down the stretch as the Grizzlies recorded 13 offensive rebounds and 16 second chance points in the second half.
The Bengals couldn't score on their possession with Doug D'Amore missing a 17-foot jumper, setting up Criswell's heroics. The game marked the second straight year Montana won on a last second shot, as in 2003 Steve Horne hit a rebound shot at the buzzer for a 90-88 win.
The loss marred a solid offensive performance for ISU. They hit on .596 of their shots from the field and turned the ball over just nine times. However, the Bengals hit just 12-of-21 from the free throw line, compared to Montana, which shot nearly a free throw per minute, hitting 26-of-38.
Despite the loss, the Bengals remained improbably in second place as Northern Arizona also lost, keeping them even with the Bengals at 5-5. Eastern Washington has now earned the right to host the tournament, but no other position is settled yet, as only a game and a half separate second place from last place. ISU travels to take on Northern Arizona on Thursday night at 7:05 pm.
